By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an order barring the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) from receiving state contracts, employment, or funding, citing unsubstantiated claims of connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and an aim to establish a global Islamic caliphate. This action mirrors a similar move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who also labeled CAIR a terrorist organization, prompting a lawsuit. DeSantis’s order, like Abbott’s, is rooted in bigotry, employing rhetoric associated with right-wing groups who falsely claim Muslims seek to implement sharia law. CAIR has refuted these claims and condemned Hamas’s attacks.
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ICE Agent Kneels on Pregnant Woman as Bystanders Hurl Snowballs at Him. The sheer brutality of the video is something that really hits hard. It’s truly disgusting to see a pregnant woman subjected to such violence. The knee on her back, the dragging across the asphalt – it’s difficult to watch. It’s difficult to know what the ultimate outcome of the incident was for the woman, particularly when the reports on social media are not verifiable. Regardless, the actions captured in the video are nothing short of horrendous.
The initial reports of the incident make the events even more appalling. Onlookers shouted that the woman was pregnant. They pleaded with the agents to stop, to let her go, to get her off her stomach. One witness recounted, “We kept yelling, ‘She is pregnant, she’s pregnant.’ They put their knees on her. We kept telling them, ‘She can’t breathe, let her up, let her up.’” The image of ICE agents ignoring these pleas and continuing their actions is horrifying, particularly when considering the potential consequences for both the woman and her unborn child. The fact that the agents also deployed a Taser and pepper spray into the crowd, including a reporter and photographer, speaks volumes about the level of disregard for human life and safety on display.
ICE’s official statement and the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department offer a stark contrast to what was witnessed. ICE claimed the incident was a “targeted vehicle stop,” while the police determined there was “no violence occurring” against the agents. The fact that the police did not intervene, and that the ICE agents were able to make arrests, creates a picture of a system that is either complicit or utterly out of touch with the reality of the situation. This disconnect between the facts on the ground and the official response makes one question the integrity of the enforcement agencies involved.
The incident highlights a number of broader issues, including the use of force by law enforcement agencies, the treatment of immigrants, and the role of political rhetoric. The video could also be construed as a betrayal of values, with the contrast between purported “pro-life” values and the treatment of a pregnant woman particularly jarring. The dehumanization of the woman in this scenario is a harsh reminder of how easily those in power can dismiss human dignity. The lack of accountability demonstrated throughout the event also reflects a larger, disheartening trend.
The response from the public, as represented by bystanders throwing snowballs, highlights the anger and frustration felt by many. This gesture of defiance, reminiscent of historical acts of resistance, demonstrates a feeling of powerlessness in the face of perceived injustice. It’s also easy to see how the responses of individuals on social media, those who either downplay the incident or blame the victim, show an unwillingness to acknowledge the severity of what occurred.
The lack of action from politicians is disheartening. The expressions of outrage by some politicians on social media, without any further consequences, feel performative. The incident presents a need for a greater level of engagement by elected officials. The lack of immediate action further amplifies the feeling that the current system is failing.
The events in Minneapolis serve as a wake-up call, underscoring the necessity for a thorough investigation, and calls for accountability, potentially including criminal charges. It is crucial to examine the training and oversight of ICE agents and other law enforcement agencies. This would ensure that such inhumane and unlawful actions never occur again.